Jackboot on Wakf land too

Army occupies 330 kanals in Poonch

 

Srinagar: More than 300 kanals of land belonging to Wakf (Auqaf Islamia) land is under army’s occupation in border district of Poonch, the government said on Thursday.
 

“The total area of Wakf land under the illegal occupation of locals is 49 kanals and one marla, and the Wakf land under the illegal occupation of army is 330 kanals in district Poonch,” said Minister for Hajj and Auqaf, Ajaz Ahmed Khan in a written reply to a question by National Conference MLA, Ejaz Ahmad Jan in the Legislative Council here.
 

Jan wanted to know when these occupants will be evicted and the land restored to its real caretakers.
 

“The matter was taken up with the Ministry of Defence for getting the land vacated. The ministry (through its letter dated 24-12-2011) has assured to examine the matter urgently. But till date neither the land nor the rent paid to the Auqaf Islamia by army,” the minister replied.
 

Mehbooba condemns ‘ban’ on Facebook, YouTube

‘Don’t force youth to pelt stones

: Coming down heavily on the state government for “partially banning” social network sites Facebook and YouTube, the People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday alleged that government wants to frustrate the youth of Kashmir.
“The government wants to frustrate the youth in the Valley by putting curbs on them. Facebook act as a platform for them to express their anger and give vent to their feelings, and a ban on it will have a direct impact on the psyche of the youth. They will come and pelt stones,” Mehbooba told the Legislative Assembly.
“Youth of Kashmir have been confined to their homes. Instead of encouraging them to express their opinion on these social sites, you are provoking them to come to streets by banning SMS, blocking access to Facebook and YouTube,” she said.
Mehbooba said the social networking sites are the “only connecting link” between the youth of the state studying and working outside and their families. “There were protests outside the state against the anti-Islam movie but nowhere such harsh and draconian steps were taken by any of the state governments like Chennai, Haryana etc,” she said.
When Mehbooba demanded Speaker Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone to “pass directions to the government”, the latter rejected it saying “Government is listening, let them take time and solve it. Let us give government time.”
Mehbooba’s demand was supported by Yousuf Tarigami and Independent MLA Er Abdul Rashid.

MLAs can be frisked for House security

Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Tuesday announced that all MLAs would be frisked if the security staff inside the House feels it necessary.

Lone made the announcement after Independent MLA from Langate, Engineer Rasheed asked why his personal secretary was not allowed into the House despite having proper permission.

“There will be no compromise on the security of the House,” Lone said. “The security is for the whole House, not only me.”

The statement came a day after the ruckus in the House on Monday after three youth from Jammu jumped into the well of the House and raised slogans demanding implementation of employment policy in the state.
As Engineer Rasheed kept on raising the question, Speaker shouted at him saying, “You may say anything but we will on compromise on the security of the House.”

Lone also accused Rasheed of “staging drama in the House” to invite the media attention. “You don’t come here to seek solution to the people’s problems but to create drama to invite media attention and get your stories and photographs published,” said Speaker.

He also accused Rasheed of violating the constitution of India by talking about right to self-determination for people of Kashmir. “Nobody in the House takes you seriously now. Go and talk about right to self-determination somewhere else.”

Rasheed, in his response, walked out from the House.

In the meantime, National Conference MLA from Gurez, Nazir Gurezi asked the Speaker if he made the remark about the frisking of MLAs in anger.

 “It seems that you made the remark in anger,” said Gurezi. But the Speaker said that he made the statement consciously. “I did not make the statement in anger, I reiterate that members of the House could be subjected to frisking if the security personnel have doubt on anyone,” he said.

2305 persons missing in J&K: CM

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said more than 2,300 persons have been declared “missing” in the state even as efforts were on to trace them.

“As per the inputs furnished by the concerned District Development Commissioners, 2,305 persons have been declared missing,” Abdullah, who also holds the Home portfolio, told Legislative Assembly in a written reply to a question by MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami. Omar said FIRs have been registered in 182 cases while “missing reports” have been lodged in most of the remaining cases.

“Ex-gratia relief has been paid in 729 cases, benefit of compassionate appointment has been given in 58 cases and cash in lieu of government jobs has been paid in 65 cases,” he said, adding “all out efforts are being made by the concerned agencies to trace the missing persons.”

Replying to the part of question pertaining to rehabilitation of families of the disappeared persons, he said the issue was discussed at the State Rehabilitation Council meeting held in August this year.

Omar said it has been decided to initiate an exercise for establishment of the exact number of missing persons, widows and their children and dependents before taking a decision on their rehabilitation.

On the setting up of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Omar said he had shared the idea of having such a commission with the House during the Budget session of the Assembly last year.

 “The constitution of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir would require wider consultation and a broad consensus among all the stake holders,” he added

‘Independent’ MLA says he doesn’t accept Indian constitution

Independent MLA from Kupwara, Engineer Abdul Rashid Monday kicked up a storm in the Legislative Assembly with his statement that he didn’t accept the Indian constitution.   Rashid while referring to National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah’s recent statement that he was an Indian first said that even Rahul Gandhi had  said that he was a Kashmiri but Dr Farooq, “a Kashmiri, proudly says that he is an Indian.”
The members of the house got agitated because of the statement made by him and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar said, “He (Er Rasheed) always does such statements so that he would remain in news.”

Rasheed was interrupted the speaker of the assembly, Mohamamd Akbar Lone  who asked if Rashid  was not an Indian.

Rashid responded: “I even do not accept the Indian constitution I am a Kashmiri first.” Later Speaker read out the oath taken by every member at the time of filing his nomination papers. Pointing towards Rashid Lone said, “He is an Indian at the time when he needs funds for his constituency”.

Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma also objected to Rashid’s remarks, accusing him of double standards. “Rashid is drawing salary from this house and on the other hand he is saying that he is not a citizen of India and then he does not accept the Indian constitution,” Sharma said.

Upon which Rasheed replied, “Assembly has no mandate to quash United Nation Resolutions and people of Jammu Kashmir have sacrificed only for right to self determination. India cannot run away from international commitment to grant right of self determination to Kashmiri people.”

Commenting on the recent killings of Sarpanchs he said that they have been elected by the people and are being killed by  army and police who by forcing Sarpanchs to participate in their Sadbhavna
programs and Iftar parties and people think they are agents.

 Rasheed said that taking oath in Indian constitution does not stop him from revealing the historic facts and reminded the house congress and Muslim league used to form governments before 1947 in the British rule and still continued their struggle for freedom.

Pathribal echoes in LA Shift military court to K

Shift military court to Kashmir: PDP

Srinagar: Hitting hard at government, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday demanded for transfer of the court martial proceedings in the Pathribal fake encounter case from Jammu to Srinagar or Anantnag.
The demand was raised by a senior PDP MLA, Peerzada Mansoor, during Zero Hour Session in the state legislative assembly.

“The court martial proceedings in the Pathribal fake encounter case should be transferred from Nagrota Army camp in Jammu to either Srinagar or Anantnag,” Mansoor demanded.

He reminded that House that even the CBI has termed the killing of fove civilians as cold-blooded murder by the army.

Army has been conduction the court martial proceedings at Nagrota Jammu after the Supreme Court of India allowed it to choose how it wanted to proceed in the case.

“It should be shifted to Srinagar or Anantnag for the convenience five of the families of the victims,” Mansoor said. “Tragic part is Army gives summon direct to the families without even consulting district police or local police. Our demand is that summons should be served by a local police.”
In a reply to the demands Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone said, “For all this I have to see law first then will be decided.”
Five persons were killed in a fake encounter at Pathribal in Anantnag district in March 2000 and deceased were branded as foreign militants responsible for massacre of 35 Sikhs in nearby Chittisinghpora village.

The Indian Supreme Court in May this year had given the army an option to choose how it wanted the officers accused of the Pathribal fake encounter to be tried. The army could either opt for a court-martial or allow regular criminal courts to carry on with the prosecution proceedings. Army chose to take over the case from the magistrate and conduct its own enquiry.

In October this year Army has issued fresh summons to the families, asking them to depose as witnesses in the court martial. The families have, however, once again rejected the proceedings citing lack of transparency.

The General Officer Commanding (GoC) of army’s Jammu-based 16 Corp Lt Gen A S Nandal has asked the families to depose before the army court at Nagrota in Jammu on Wednesday, October 3.

 “Whereas hearing of charge will be held at HQ 16 Corps (Nagrota) on October 3 against the accused persons in the Pathribal (fake) encounter case, I do hereby summon and require you to attend as witness...and bring with you relevant documents/material, if any, so to attend from day to day until you shall be duly discharged, when of you shall fail at your peril,” reads the summons issued to the family members of the victims.

 Army had earlier issued summons to the families to depose as witnesses on September 20. However, the families refused to participate in the trial after the army rejected their demand of shifting the court martial venue from Jammu to Srinagar. The families are also demanding a counsel of their choice to plead their case and police to accompany them.

To protest ‘dual authority’, LPG dealers to go for 2-day strike from today

Oilcos, J&K government issue contradictory guidelines: Dealers

06 November

Kashmir LPG Dealers’ Association is going for two-day strike from today (Tuesday) to protest “dual authority of oil companies and Jammu and Kashmir Government” and to press for a clear distribution policy on supply of domestic cooking gas to consumers in the state.
 

The dealers also claim that despite calling them for a meeting by director consumer affairs and public distribution, Mushtaq Ahmad, with divisional commissioner at his office on Monday to discuss the issue none of the officials, including the invite, were present at the venue and they have to return back after three hours wait.
 

“We are going for two day strike from Tuesday as we are confused after getting contradictory directions from oil companies and state government. We need to get it cleared from the government and oil companies that which one we have to follow,” said Vice-President of Kashmir LPG Dealers Association, Mohammas Aslam after holding a protest at press colony along with his other members.
 

He said that they have been following the guidelines from union petroleum ministry and their concerned oil companies but the state government is now issuing new direction which are opposite to that of oil companies. They need to know which directions they should follow, he said.
 

“The state government this month told us to distribute the non-subsidized gas to customers on their ration cards upto March next year for Rs 1273 but our concerned oil companies give us definite quota of subsidized gas cylinders for which we have to give account to companies every day. The company will cost us Rs 3000 per cylinder as fine if they find any sort of miss appropriation,” said Aslam.
 

He said that before making any new rule or passing any new direction to them, State government should discuss the matter with the oil companies.
 

“This only adds to our confusion and of general public and government needs to come up with comprehensive policy,” Aslam said.
 

He also criticized the government’s new guidelines to oil companies to increase the number of dealers from 43 to 14,00 LPG dealers in Kashmir.
 

“There are around 5500 LPG dealers in whole of India how can Valley accommodate 1400 dealers when there are several no-viable dealers who don’t have more than 10,000 customers and are running on no profit no loss basis,” said Aslam.
 

He also claimed that they were informed by Director CAPD to come to the meeting at Divisional Commissioner’s office on Monday to discuss these issues but after waiting for three hours outside his office none of the officials turn up.
 

“We were asked to come at 11:30 am and we reached there at 11:00 am but neither divisional commissioner nor any other official did turn up to the meeting and we left the place at 1:00 pm,” claimed Aslam.
 

When director CAPD, Mushtaq Ahmad was contacted by Kashmir Reader he said that he can’t say anything on the issue and divisional commissioner would be right person to comment on it.
“You can get the details about it from divisional commissioner,” the director said.
 

 Despite repeated calls on his mobile, divisional commissioner couldn’t be contacted.  

‘Arrest cheaters of Al-Balaagh’

Unauthorised Kupwara Hajj service operator at large

11 November

 
Days after Jammu and Kashmir police arrested the prime accused of Hajeej fraud case, scores of Hajj aspirants who were duped by another such entity Al-Balaagh, a private Hajj and Umrah service provider this year, demanded the arrest of its owner as well.
 
The delegation of duped Hajj aspirants told Kashmir Reader that each one of them had paid Rs 3,30,000 to Al-Balaagh for Hajj bookings but they were duped after this company’s failure to secure visas for them. They said that each of them was also asked to deposit an additional sum of Rs 30,000 for the accommodation during the pilgrimage.
 
The delegation demanded that the fraudster, Mehjoor Ahmed Khan of Kupwara should be arrested immediately and the money should be given back to the aspirants.
One of the duped Hajj aspirant said, “The accused has not only played with their emotions but has also stopped them from performing Hajj.”
 
Al-Balaagh has duped 126 aspirants for this year’s pilgrimage. “We have been preparing for the holy journey since we paid up the money but later they duped us,” said a Hajj aspirant Mohammad Ismail Parray, a resident of Natipora.
 
He said that the height was the operator in October told the aspirants to get vaccinated and prepare for the journey as their visas were ready which would be delivered within days.
 
Parray said that they have approached few police officials but nothing has been done so far.
However, a top police official told Kashmir Reader that police had registered a FIR No: 82/2012 under section 420 of RPC (cheating) and the investigation was going on.
 
This is the second such incident in Kashmir in two years. More than 500 people were duped by Hajeej India Hospitality in 2011. Fabiyan Gilkar, who owns Hajeej India Hospitality, a private tour operator, and his brother Arsalan Wahid and father Abdul Wahid Gilkar were arrested by the police outside High Court Complex Monday.
 
The trio had approached the court with their counsel seeking a stay order on their arrest. But they were arrested as cases against them stood registered under sections, section 420 (cheating and dishonestly), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 295 of RPC (, at police station Khanyar.

Wholesalers make sales worth Rs 24 lakh per day

Low-priced PVC shoes dominate Kashmir winter market

13 November

As the winter is ready to set its feet in the Valley, it is time to put in some extra preparation and buying warm shoes is on top of the preparation list.
 

With sandals and flip flops already out of fashion due to biting cold, people particularly with weaker economic background and the village community are moving to their preferred choice, PVC shoes. These shoes not only cost very little as compared to other footwear but also provide protection from the chilling winters.  
 

And it is this essential need that wholesalers and consignee agents here are cashing with supplying these shoes worth cores of rupees.
 

These days, wholesalers dealing with PVC shoes, for both men and women, are thronged by retail shopkeepers from across the Valley to buy the PVC winter footwear.
 

With more than six main wholesalers based in Srinagar’s Batamaloo area, they say that their daily sales to other districts touch Rs 4 lakh for each during this time. “We are the main distributors of these shoes and dealers and shopkeepers from across the Valley enquire and buy from us. These dealers based in other districts want to maintain a sufficient stock before snowfall,” said Firdous Khan, a distributor based in main market Batamaloo.
 

He said the majority of the dealers come from other districts particularly from north Kashmir and south Kashmir.
 

According to the dealers there are several PVC shoe-making companies but among all, Madaan and Apex, two Delhi based shoe companies top the list.
 

“Our range for men starts from Rs 135 to Rs 250 and for the women it starts from Rs 120 to Rs 300,” said another dealer from the same area, Mehraj Majeed.
 

Majeed added that the shoes available there have variety of designs and are in different colors. Most of the PVC shoes exported to the Valley come from Delhi.
 

“They have been made in a very nominal structure and had very high demand among the rural folk of the Valley. Very few from the Srinagar use PVC shoes,” Majeed said.
 

“For women we have a special variety of shoes this year. Besides we offer our customers strong and stylish footwear, perfect for winters. People prefer our products because, we offer a variety of designs that too on very nominal price when compared to other shoes available in the market.”
 

The dealers predict a peak season when Valley will receive it first snowfall. “As of now we only provide our customers simple PVC shoes but after 15 days we would be introducing fur lined shoes. These shoes keep your feet warm in chilling winters,” said another dealer Fayaz Ahmed.

LPG-cap after effects

Demand for kerosene-run wick stoves increases in Valley

16 November

Due to cap on domestic LPG supply, people in the Valley are turning to any-and-all options available in alternative fuels to keep the hearth in their kitchens going.
 

People here are not only searching for their old kerosene-run stoves but sales of the new stoves in the markets have also increased many fold as per shopkeepers and wholesalers dealing with such products.
Shopkeepers at Paldium market dealing with all kinds of cooking products say one such hot selling item is the kerosene-run wick stove these days.
 

Abdul Hameed, one of the distributors of the stove at the Paladium market said before the cap on LPG it would be army personnel and may be some people from far-flung areas who will buy this stove. But a number of people from within the city and other districts come to buy the wick stoves now.
 

Hameed is not alone, there are more than a dozen distributors in Srinagar who sell these stoves and say sales have increased many fold. These stoves come from a number of companies but among all, two brands, Pigeon and Maruti are most in demand.
 

“We have variety of stoves available of various qualities but Pigeon tops the list. Every day on an average I sell around 200 stoves daily to customers including retailers as well,” said Hameed.
 

Hameed, who also deals with the variety of gas stoves as well says, customers this year came in large numbers to buy these kerosene wick stoves due to the cap on LPG gas. These kerosene wick stoves with 10 wicks are available in different ranges with its different storage capacity of kerosene starting from 2 liters to 4 liters.
 

These stoves, besides being noiseless, are fuel efficient as well. A stove runs for 8 to 10 hours on just one liter of kerosene.
 

“The price starts from Rs 350 to Rs 800, low cost and lighter weight adds its sales value. Everyone here can afford these stoves,” said Mohammad Yaqoob, another distributor at Lal chowk.  
 

Every year the people of the valley has to witness electricity curtailment, Valley remains cut off from the rest of world in snowfall and more importantly the current cap on LPG proved boost for its increase in sale, he said.
 

These kerosene wick stoves are considered as a multi-function as people not only use for cooking food and boiling water, but also use it to heat up the room in winters.
 

“The current cap on LPG has pushed us to Stone Ages. Everyone is well aware about the harsh winter and the shortage of essential commodities in winter adds to our woes,” said a customer Abdul Razaq Bhanday.
Bhanday added that either they have to use wood for cooking or these kerosene stoves but he says the kerosene supply is also limited.

Saraf seeks rehabilitation of ex-militants

Accusing the  Jammu and Kashmir government of “betraying” ex- militants, senior leader Lok Jan Shakti Party (Y) Sanjay Saraf on Tuesday demanded their immediate rehabilitation on the lines of Punjab and Northeast states.
 

Addressing a press conference here, Saraf said, “These militants have surrendered their weapons long back after spending a long time in jails. They want to live a peaceful and prosperous life with their families.”
 

He added that lives of thousands of ex-militants are at sake because government has backtracked on its promises.
 

The demands of ex-militants include “respectable citizenship”, grant of easy loans, ex-gratia relief to families of dead militants and shifting of local militants to jails in the state so that they could meet their family members. They also seek revocation of PSA and AFSPA, easy availability of loans, passports for Hajj and Umrah and  free education for their  children.
 

 Saraf also slammed the government for “delaying” the revocation of AFSPA and PSA.
“Every time government comes up with a statement that it will be revoked slowly but nothing concrete has come yet. We demand an immediate revocation of such draconian laws,” Saraf said.